The Mid-America Business Conditions Index for September declined from August’s healthy reading. Indices over the past several months are pointing to solid, but slower, economic gains over the next three to six months for the region.
The Business Conditions Index, which ranges between 0 and 100, fell to 54.3 from August’s 57.2.
Dr.Ernie Goss, director of Creighton University’s Economic Forecasting Group said the decline can be tied to ag and energy.
After falling below growth neutral for August, the employment index once again moved above this threshold. The job gauge expanded in September to 53.5 from August’s 48.7.
Goss said regional job growth for the last 12 months ending in August was approximately 1.2 percent which is down from 1.5 percent recorded in January of this year.
Goss said health care costs are also a concern for regional businesses.
The Creighton Economic Forecasting Group has conducted the monthly survey of supply managers in nine states since 1994 to produce leading economic indicators of the Mid-America economy. States included in the survey are Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
